1:02

I awaken to the soft, warm, furry thing in the small of my back.
I am warm to the point of perspiring.
I move away from you but you nudge back.
You seek my warmth.
I arise and seek the cooling water.
I return to the softness and warmth of the bed and you decide it is time to purr loud in my face.
What does sleep mean to you?
Am I there for heat osmosis?
After a few minutes of purring and kneading, you doze off.
So do I.
Just to awaken and find a soft, warm, furry thing in the small of my back.

Change of seasons

I have started volunteering at a local elementary school. I think a postitive influence on children may help. Neat kids. I have started weight lifting again to get my upper body stronger and more tone. Advent is upon me and I do not have anything original to offer. It is new to the persons, but not to me.

Looking out on the world seeing the change in life:

Fall Invasions

The leaves are in full color and it is striking. Much more than I could ever imagined. Because we are in such a rural area, the temperature really drops like a rock. We have had 40 degrees swings between the morning 30 and the afternoon 70, so much different than my suburban lifestyle where the temperature moderated because of all the civilization. I can say that the frost on the ground, the frozen pond, the smell in the air makes it so much more worth it to be here right now.
I counted over 20 robins in my yard today as they migrate to wherever robins migrate. I also saw a chipmunk chasing the robins out of its acorn patch then climb a tree. I had no idea that chipmunks could climb trees .
We also have had low flying geese come through squawking as they came by. The next day we had low flying Marines. So you ask, “What are low flying Marines?”
2 legged arthropods that come in helicopters. That is correct. Martinsville has been invaded by Marines that are doing pre-deployment training. I made a comment that I really did not miss the sound of low flying aircraft that I was so accustomed too in Arlington. Now I know that I did not miss them. My usual silence was so interrupted by all this invading and storming buildings that kept me looking up instead of getting the quarter-zillion things I need to get done this week.

A Rainy day at the beach

I went to the beach for some time away and ended up doing work anyway.
Here are my thoughts as I watched the rain.

I should be studying…

Da Beach.
Rain.
It comes down and the people move in.
The flip flops are no more as shoes come out of the closet.
The beaches are empty,
The footprints washed away.
The birds stand as they wonder where the next french fry is going to come from.
Puddles are everywhere and so are the cars.
Restaurants are full as the people scramble indoors.
The clouds, dark and dreary bring needed relief.
The air is heavy, the wind is calm,
The waves gently wash onto the beach and find no footprints to cover.
A set of toes finds the surf.
It is still warm.
Ah, vacation on a rainy day.
Life turns inward.

12:43 AM

Light dances on the walls.
A distant rumble rolls across the room.
The light gets brighter
The rumbles get louder.
Brightness and sounds grow.
I arise and go to the sun room to watch the storm.
Goose is spooked and appears to be running,
Looking,
Searching.
The rain starts,
The lightning flashes.
The thunder booms.
The phone rings, The lightning flashes, the house shakes.
That was a close one.
Again, A flash, A ring and a boom.
The cats are agitated.
Slowly the lightning moves away,
The sounds grow fainter.
The only sound is a gentle rain.
A needed refreshment of the land
Light dances from a different direction.
Time for more sleep.

Life in a rural area:

Seeing the swallowtail butterfly all over the area is just a blessing, then to know that the tiger swallowtail butterfly is the state butterfly and it is plentiful around here is just so different that what I am used too. I have seen monarch butterflies and that was a shock to me. I am absolutely amazed at all the butterflies around here. It reminds me of a person in my life who was fond of butterflies. May she rest in peace.
I was also saw the first ruby throated hummingbird in my backyard this morning. I have been thinking about getting a hummingbird feeder but am not sure where to put it. Now that I know there are a few in my area, I am considering it more.
We have two chipmunks in our yard. Chip in the front and Munk in the back. They do a good job of cleaning up under the bird feeder but they can not be in the same area at the same time. They will jump each other and it is so funny to watch these little critters fight. It lasts about 1 second. I also think it is neat that they ignore or chase the birds on the ground. Watching this little guy standing up to a bluejay is a sight.
We have deer and rabbits in the yard but da wif seems to not see them.

I'm still here

I'm just not sure what to post. Anyone out there?

Goose

I watched Goose sleeping and had these thoughts:
For Goose.

You lay on the pillow,
In the corner.
Sleeping,
Snoring,
Content.

I watch you as you dream,
An ear flick,
A paw curls,
Your tail raises
and falls.
Your leg stretches out.

What are you dreaming about?
Are you a kitten playing with your siblings?
Are you next to your mother purring and being cleaned?
Are you chasing butterflies in the meadow?
Are you admiring the birds at the feeder?
What goes on in your mind?

You are curled up and happy.
I can’t bother you.
That would not be right.
You are dreaming,
And dreaming is what you do best.

New Community Adventures

Went out for my first bike ride to deliver bulletins to my churches. Ride was better than I thought it would be. I was afraid of the redneck pickup trucks but all I got was respect from everyone on the road. I even rode back along the major 4 lane highway with little or no shoulders and that went extremely well.
First thing I noticed is there are some wonderful views of the mountains from back in the hills. Also, there are some major hills back there. I had a flat on one of my bikes so I took one not meant for this type of terrain. My quads are telling me that they got a workout.

I stopped at each church altar and prayed for each of the congregations. I pray that things work well for us.
Now as for the furniture.... It is supposed to be delivered today. Today is Saturday. I'm waiting.

Moving is a contact sport

At least I feel that what. My body has cuts, scrapes and bruises all over it. Moving the boxes down the stairs let me know where every corner was. Having a door fall on the back of my leg (Movers fault) hurt like you would not believe.
Being so tired from the day, my knee gave out as I started going down the stairs and I fell backwards. Nothing hurt, just awkward.
I sit in a clean house waiting for one last person so I can start the trip to my new home. This house has been my home, now it is time to be someone elses. I blessed the house and the new occupants.

Saying Goodbye

Today is one of those days I really hate. I am saying goodbye to a friend. She and I have been through much these past three years and I am moving not knowing if I will ever see her again. I wish her well. May God bless her and her ministry.

Packing and the little things

Packing and getting the little things done. Moving is not fun, but.. I am looking forward to starting this new chapter in my life. What is different. I trust. I trust that I am not in charge. I trust that I am listening to what God would have me do.
Moving to a new town is going to be fun.
I pray that I make a difference in the world.
I pray that things work out for what I face.

Life snuck up on me this morning.

How things change in a minute.
I was sitting there quietly when an email arrived from someone I went to high school with.via this really annoying reunion site.

I almost deleted the email but since I could not sleep I let the link take me to the post.
It announced that my best friend from my childhood had died of a heart attack. It also said his mother was in ill health.
My heart sank.
Someone I had grown up with and lost touch with had died.
I still know his birthday and his phone number. I know his 3 brothers and 1 sister’s names. I feel awful that I could not get in touch with him all these years but I did try a few times.

I went out for my bike ride and started reminiscing the things we did together.
Going to a movie for my 10th birthday. Bedknobs and Broomsticks. The sleep overs at his house and at my house. The tornado that damaged his house when I was in the 4th grade. I remember going into the forest and seeing all the downed trees.
His family was Catholic and I attended CCD with him on more than one occasion. I was heartbroken when I received a tract from my church saying that all Catholics were going to hell. I just could not believe someone so good and pure as him was going to go to hell.

I moved away and came back 5 years later and we never resumed the relationship. I was now the product of an over-crowded school system with apathetic teachers and had fallen behind him in academic life. He was one of the brains in the school and I was just average.

I found his obituary in his local paper and find he leaves a wife and 3 children behind and was attending a Baptist church. I need to reach out to his family and let them know I will miss him. He showed me friendship and his family showed me hospitality. Somethings we all need to show to others.

225th Annual Conference

Vote, preach, talk, wonder, great new people, sing, stand, get hot from the lack of adequate AC, have a great time!!!

Blogging from the Conference

What were they thinking?

I was out the other day and I saw this:

Someone had bottomed out this SUV on the bike trail. The tow truck was there to get it off but how in the world did it get there in the first place?

Move and I'll bite you

Out for a ride this morning and the animals were out. Traffic on the roads was bad so any crossing meant I had to watch out for the cars speeding.
Getting to Vienna, I saw a black cat with a collar out for a stroll on the bike trail. He was not even phased by the bikes going past him.

A few hundred yards later I see a mangy looking fox. He scampered off.
Out before Reston where the bridge washed out last year and they are repairing it now, I ran into one of the workers showing me his latest catch in the stream. One really mad snapping turtle. I stopped and got a picture of this one.
On my way back I saw a rabbit, squirrel all trying to become road kill.
Just wish my knee didn't hurt so much.

Thoughts on starting to fight for life.

Its not time.

I look at you and you only want to be held.
You are a little wobbly in the legs.
You have lost a little weight,
But you continue to give.
You give unconditionally.
You keep coming up to me,
Wanting to be held, wanting to be near me.
I searched within myself to say
I want to fight this.
I want you to stay around a little while.
Am I being selfish?
Yes. I feel this fight is within you.
I see that you have life within you.
I want to have you around.
I want to hold you and have you next to me in the middle of the night.
Only by your choice.
But I say that its not time.

Watching

Alex is doing OK.

I have been watching him after his diagnosis.
He is very pesky toward Charlotte.
I want to bring him back and see if we can have the lump removed.
I wonder how he feels.

Goose was very friendly to me this morning and Charlotte actually is friendly,
Just if she did not give me so many upchucks.
I'll keep watching.
Nothing more to do.

Another Ode

Ode to a Birdfeeder
We purchased you to be entertainment for the 4 footed felines.
Instead you give us a show.
Chickadees, red finches, gold finches, cardinals, Blue jays, Titmice, tufted titmice, sparrows, black birds,Carolina wrens, downies, red headed wood peckers, hawks, falcons all come for some sort of feeding.
Things that sing, things that chirp, things that hammer on the wood railing.
All kind of noises you draw in.
There are birds we can not identify, squirrels hanging on, raccoons getting into the birdfood.
Possums out for a quick snack.
Cats waiting on dinner from one of the visitors to you.

How entertaining you are, to me.
The cats lost interest years ago.

Ode to Alex

For Alex.

You greet me at the top of the stairs.
Your eyes are bright and ears are erect, perky.
You come to be and I enfold you in my arms.
You come close to me and the purrs begin.
I crawl into bed and you lay next to me,
Head under my chin, your body so close to mine.
Is this what you want?
The warmth and attention?
I can give this to you as long as you want.
Your unconditional love and affection is important.
Your desire to be with me warms my heart.
How much longer?
Will you be with me?
Will you be perky?
Will you tell me when it is time?